Phebe, the Blackberry Girl

Excerpt

THE BLACKBERRY GIRL.

PART I.

"Why, Phebe, are you come so soon,
  Where are your berries, child?
You cannot, sure, have sold them all,
  You had a basket pil'd."

"No, mother, as I climb'd the fence,
  The nearest way to town,
My apron caught upon a stake,
  And so I tumbled down."

"I scratched my arm, and tore my hair,
  But still did not complain;
And had my blackberries been safe,
  Should not have cared a grain.

[Illustration: Phebe and her Mother.]

"But when I saw them on the ground
  All scattered by my side,
I pick'd my empty basket up,
  And down I sat and cried.

"Just then a pretty little Miss
  Chanced to be walking by;
She stopp'd, and looking pitiful,
  She begg'd me not to cry.

"'Poor little girl, you fell,' said she,
  'And must be sadly hurt'—
'O, no,' I cried, 'but see my fruit,
  All mixed with sand and dirt!'

"'Well, do not grieve for that,' she said:
  'Go home, and get some more:'
Ah, no, for I have stripp'd the vines,
  These were the last they bore.

"My father, Miss, is very poor,
  And works in yonder stall;

He has so many little ones,
  He cannot clothe us all.

"I always long'd to go to church,
  But never could I go;
For when I ask'd him for a gown,
  He always answer'd, 'No.'

"'There's not a father in the world
  That loves his children more;
I'd get you one with all my heart,
  But, Phebe, I am poor.'

"But when the blackberries were ripe
  He said to me one day,
'Phebe, if you will take the time
  That's given you for play,

"And gather blackberries enough,—
  And carry them to town,—
To buy your bonnet and your shoes,
  I'll try to get a gown.'

[Illustration: Phebe and Billy going to School.]

"O Miss, I fairly jumped for joy,
  My spirits were so light:
And so, when I had leave to play,
  I pick'd with all my might.

"I sold enough to get my shoes,
  About a week ago;
And these, if they had not been spilt,
  Would buy a bonnet too.

"But now they are gone, they all are gone,
  And I can get no more,
And Sundays I must stay at home
  Just as I did before.

"And, mother, then. I cried again,
  As hard as I could cry;
And, looking up, I saw a tear
  Was standing in her eye.

"She caught her bonnet from her head—
  'Here, here,' she cried, 'take this!'

O, no, indeed—I fear your 'ma
  Would be offended, Miss.

[Illustration]

"'My 'ma! no, never! she delights
  All sorrow to beguile;
And 'tis the sweetest joy she feels,
  To make the wretched smile.

"'She taught me when I had enough,
  To share it with the poor:
And never let a needy child
  Go empty from the door.

[Illustration: The Church the Blackberry Girl went to.]

"'So take it, for you need not fear
  Offending her, you see;
I have another, too, at home,
  And one's enough for me.'

"So then I took it,—here it is—
  For pray what could I do?
And, mother, I shall love that Miss
  As long as I love you."

[Illustration]

[Illustration: Phebe with a Basket of Berries.]